Re-evaluating auto tipping policies?

[LHT28]

The cruise lines have "CREATIVE CONVERSION RATES" for those that pay in other currencies
One cruise for us to pay in CAD the conversion rate was about 20% more than the daily bank rate... some cruise lines even Canadians cannot book with a US agent or direct we must go through the wholesaler

I think in the U.K. they also do not get their deposit back if they cancel even before final payment ...they must claim it through insurance

[Dwayne]

The old argument that tips are part of their pay is true. Yet, tips should be based on performance as an extra reward. The cruise lines have tried to skew the tipping to be a major subsidization of the crew's base pay instead of it being a smaller portion. The trick they are doing with the auto tipping is to get tipping guests to tip beyond what is auto to make up for those that don't don't tip at all or remove them. They walk a fine line with legalities concerning what is a gratuity and what is a service charge. JMHO.

Dwayne